Rolls-Royce test runs new UltraFan engine
Rolls-Royce has successfully completed the initial testing of its ground-breaking UltraFan technology demonstrator at the company’s facility in Derby, UK.
The tests were notably executed with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), marking a considerable stride towards the future of sustainable air travel.
This momentous occasion is the first of its kind in over half a century for Rolls-Royce. “This is a historic moment for Rolls-Royce – it’s the first time in 54 years the aero-engine manufacturer has tested a brand-new engine architecture and is proof of what can be achieved when industry and Governments work together,” the company stated in its press release.
The success of these preliminary trials signals the viable potential of the suite of technologies embedded in the UltraFan demonstrator. The revolutionary engine has demonstrated a 10% efficiency improvement over the Trent XWB, which is presently the world’s most efficient large aero engine in service.
This new technology is not only focused on future aero engines. The company highlighted there are “options to transfer technologies from the UltraFan development programme to current Trent engines, providing our customers with even greater availability, reliability and efficiency.”
Looking further ahead, the scalable technology in the UltraFan, ranging from approximately 25,000-110,000lb thrust, could potentially power future narrowbody and widebody aircraft, anticipated to emerge in the 2030s.
CEO of Rolls-Royce plc, Tufan Erginbilgic, enthusiastically celebrated the achievement, stating, “The UltraFan demonstrator is a game changer“.
For more details on the groundbreaking UltraFan technology and the significant strides Rolls-Royce is making towards sustainable air travel, you can
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